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Originally Posted by bpcyclist
For people who have overall and fundamentally "normal" human neurological capabilities, I completely agree 100% with everything you say. The problem is that there are, in fact, sociopaths and psychopaths--those who meet full criteria for antisocial personality disorder in their ranks. These folks have been carefully studied and it is clear from good fMRI studies, many of them now, that, when faced with experiencing the pain or emotion or suffering of other human beings, their brains do not fire--at all. Nada. It is like showing them a photo of a chocolate bar--wait, no, people love chocolate. It is like showing a photo of a not cool-looking rock. The same neuorlogical response occurs. Nothing. Nothingn at all. Their brains do not have that capability, neurologically, anaatomically. Chemically. It just seems to be completely absent in these brains. For whatever neurodevelopmental reasons, genetic, environment, whatever.
Now, here is where it get s absolutely illuminating. If we show these same people images imagining their own personal suffering or pain or harm, their brains fire furiously. They are on fire! Why? Because their entire brain focus is on what? Themselves. They only care about their own, personal experiences. The experiences of other human beings do not even appear to occur in these brains. YTes, they can see with their eyes a person who is on fire, but there will be zero emotional response to that event. None. They are not capable.
So, for this type of Hitler, Pol Pot, in my personal opinion, also, Trump, individual, how do we "reach" them? Because, ultimately, they do have to change their behavior. We cannot have any more George Floyds in this country, or else, all this hyperbolic talk of civil war could well actually go down. So, they have to change, but they refuse to change. What I am saying is that, their not changing right now is not an option many of us in America are willing to accept anymore. There has been too much torture and too much murder.
Are you saying that if we simply model the right things, the right conduct, in our own lives, eventually, these neurological deficits in these individuals, some of whom run nations and police forces and armies and secret police and stuff, that they will somehow heal their broken brains? I wish I could see that, but it is difficult fo rme to do so. But, I am totally and completely open to learn new ways to thing and operate. I am probably missing a lot here.
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In terms of strategy, you are talking about targeting the smallest population that would take the greatest possible effort. If we ran a business together I would encourage you to consider targeting those who represent the portion of the masses who would take little effort to shift them a little while also strategically targeting a few powerful people who are the most likely to be compassionate to your cause.
The ground level people then affect those who did not change at first bit by bit over time. The powerful people start to weild their influence and shift those who were initially less sympathetic.
In my mind, we are hypothetically discussing trying to raise awareness on a mass scale so that the kinds of crimes that are all too commonplace now are no longer overlooked like they are today.
A Hitler only has a home in a certain kind of disempowered setting. Empowering those who have been abused is a must. This would take a lot of time and effort, but from a strategic setting a must is a must, so you also begin here. If your own base cannot stand on its own, change will not last.
I agree with you that there are outliers who will choose not to change. The existence of those people should not dissuade us from approaching things with a different tactic unless it is proven that there is no way to create the world you want while allowing the outliers to coexist. I do not believe we are there yet. Sociopathic behavior does not just appear out of nowhere. It is fostered in an environment that allows for it.
Empathy is the ability to feel others. It is a wonderful quality, but prejudice and filters based on past experience often shape our perspectives and keep people from moving forward. Sometimes we think we know what others feel when in reality our own fears are simply being mirrored back at us.
For me, and I can only speak for myself, it is valuable to try to step back from what I think I can feel when presented with oppositely polarized minds. It is helpful to go within and just radiate what I want to see and hold faith that a person who stems from the same creator has the capacity to change and morph over time as I have. I also respect their free will. My path and beliefs may not add value to their experience. If they choose not to shift, so be it. I do not allow them to force my mind either. I offer them the same respect. They have their own history. I do not view them as broken because they differ.
I do not believe any effort to advocate for the mentally ill will change or reach all people. I do not believe it should have to. However, as I change myself, it is my great hope it can change others one person at a time. It is my hope the value in it becomes clear and people choose to change because people see the alternative only fosters more pain and strife. In turn, they then change the lives of others and so on and so forth. The ripple effect is powerful given the right circumstances.
For example, I kept an open mind and heart when I worked with my doctor after I became ill. I heard horror stories, but I trusted and I followed while also taking the time to learn about his world and his craft. I then became able to better advocate for myself while showing an appreciation of his responsibilities.
Over time, he shifted course and gave me greater latitude. I took the extra time he spent with me to learn more and more from him. He took the time to learn what I was doing to help myself. He shared later he had a client with very similar circumstances to mine. He said he is going to suggest some of the things I'm trying to see if they can help.
To me, that is the kind of effect that is lasting. I am not a world leader. I am not a politician. I am one voice, but I am using it to shift my world. I used it to advocate and hopefully reach the lives of others for the better.
We have so very much we can do at a grass roots level, but many do not take action because we feel shifting the pyramid structure is hopeless. The pyramid exists because we believe in it. The numbers lie at the bottom and the bottom can choose to shift the geometry at any time. Holding back our message because the minority with 'power' may not agree is a valid safety strategy, but the root of their power comes from the ground level and fear is what holds the bottom down.
I see your point, I really do. I agree that some may not hold the frame of mind to properly see the value in change. Imagine the revolutionary war though. They faced similar challenges, but they went for it anyway. Eventually, the support came.
